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Mayor's Disability Council Members

	Natalie Alden Natalie Alden has worked with Disability Rights Florida for over fifteen years. Her current role with Disability Rights Florida is Representative Payee Program Operations Coordinator. Natalie has worked in the disability field for over thirty years and has led initiatives to improve access for citizens with disabilities throughout the state of Florida. Natalie was appointed to the Mayor’s Disability Council by Mayor John Peyton and has served the council for over ten years. She is currently serving as Chair of the Mayor’s Disability Council for Mayor Lenny Curry.
	Ronald McCauley Ronald Anthony McCauley is a Medicaid Waiver Support Coordinator servicing the Agency for Persons with Disabilities since 2000. My agency name is Support Services.com, LLC where he is the agency owner and service the Northeast region ( Jacksonville, Gainesville and Daytona). He is also apart of the Disabled Parking Enforcement Program with Disabled Services. In the community he serve as president of Forest Hills HOA.
	Dan O'Connor Dan O’Connor has worked with the Division of Blind Services for fourteen years. He has served in numerous roles with the Division of Blind Services including Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Transition Counselor, and currently serves as Assistant District Administrator. Dan was appointed to the Mayor’s Disability Council by Mayor John Peyton and has served on the council for fifteen years. He has served the City of Jacksonville for citizens with disabilities in various boards and commissions, including the Transportation Disadvantaged Board, the Elections Advisory Panel, the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, the Florida Human Rights Commission, and is currently serving as co-chair of the Employment sub-committee for the Mayor’s Disability Council.
	Barbara Brown Barbara Brown has worked with Gateway Community Services for twenty years. Her current role with Gateway Community Services is Outcome Specialist. Barbara has worked in the disability field for over forty years and has served on the State Rehabilitation Council, the Jacksonville Council for the Blind, and has served as the National Representative for the Council for the Blind. Barbara was appointed to the Mayor’s Disability Council by Mayor John Delany and has served the council under four consecutive mayors. She has led numerous initiatives to improve access for citizens with disabilities over her tenure on the council, which include employment recognition programs, community initiative programs, and the state of Florida’s Project Insight Program, one of a kind in the nation, which provides a toll free number to assist citizens who are blind or have visual disabilities and family members at no cost.
	Ray Pringle Ray Pringle Council is a member of Mayor’s Disability Council, Commissioner on the Jacksonville Waterways Commission, Certified Mentor with Christopher Reeves Foundation, Mentor with Brooks Rehab Hospital. My goal is to stay involved in City, County, State and Federal governments to help aid individual with physical challenges find and enjoy activities that promise a superior quality of life.
	Lisa Parlapiano Lisa Parlapiano has dedicated most of her career with a focus to provide resources and supports to job seekers and workers with disabilities. Lisa is currently the Career Services Coordinator for Progressive Abilities Support Services, providing staff training and program support. In her role as City of Jacksonville Mayor's Disability Council Employment Subcommittee Chair, she strives to focus on the activities and initiatives that connect workers with disabilities to the employers who need them. Her goal is to support Economic Development through labor exchange and provide support for individuals to achieve integrated, competitive employment on their road to increased self-sufficiency.
	Denise Torres Denise Torres is Advocacy Specialist for The Arc Jacksonville. She is a parent of a 32 year old son that has Autism and an Intellectual Disability. Denise served in the Navy for 20 years as a Hospital Corpsman and Navy Counselor. Her family was enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program and began her advocating education with STOMP: Specialized Training of Military Parents. Following her service Denise worked for Aetna for 13 years as a Medical Underwriter, Customer Service Trainer and Complaint and Appeals Analyst. She also worked for three years as a Social Security Case Manager for a private firm gaining insight to the world of Social Security and Disability Benefits. Denise works to provide information and referral services to families and passionately provides a “parents” perspective. She is a Board Member on the Mayors Disability Council and is appointed by the Governor to Family Care Council Area 4 where she serves as Co-Chair.
	Jose Morales Jose Morales has worked in the Jacksonville disability community in various roles, serving on boards and commissions such as the National Federation of the Blind, Mayor’s Disability Council, Hispanic Advisory Council, and the ILRC’s Youth Mentoring Program. He currently serves the Independent Living Resource Center as the ADA Manager. Jose has led many initiatives in employment, education, and program access, such as the Housing Task Force and MDC Housing sub-committee in 2018. He is currently serving as co-chair for the MDC Legislative sub-committee.
	Karen Prewitt Karen is a long-time resident of Jacksonville, FL, spouse, parent of two children, and advocate for those with Unique Needs. After the birth of her son Caleb in 2007, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, she has embraced the special needs community. She has spent the past eleven years working with a number of disability-related organizations locally, statewide and nationally. Her passion is making sure parents have information and resources. Her current roles include National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador, National Down Syndrome Society Athlete Ambassador, Management Team Member-Special Olympics FL, Duval County, Jacksonville Mayor’s Disability Council member, North Florida School of Special Education Board Member, Horse Sense & Sensitivity-Past Chair, Board member (therapeutic riding), Family Care Council Area 4-Past Chair, Council member, Chairperson for “Connecting the Dots” annual Disability Conference (NEFL area), ABLE United Ambassador, Connectable Jax Ambassador, and Blogger – “Abilities with a Twist” (The Toothbrush Pillow hosts it).
	Walter Johnson Walter Johnson is a Jacksonville native that has worked in the Jacksonville disability community for decades. As an advocate for citizens with disabilities, Walter has served on numerous boards and committees to improve access for all citizens and continues his advocacy through various roles within the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Disability Council. Water was appointed to the Mayor’s Disability Council in 2006 by Mayor John Peyton and has served the council for nearly fourteen years.

	Anida Pollo Anida Pollo currently serves as the Chair for the Mayor’s Disability Council Community Initiatives sub-committee. She has previously served as a committee member on advisory groups, including the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program and Florida State College’s Student Life and Engagement Program as a student leader. Her objective is to advocate for youth with disabilities and improve access to services which include education, employment, medical care, and recreation.